The Peshawar High Court (PHC) issued stay order on Wednesday against making changes in the seniority list of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police officials on 110 petitions filed by the affected cops.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice SM Ateeq Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmed, issued the injunction order and sought replies from the inspector general (IG) of the police and the provincial chief secretary.
During the hearing, Barrister Dr Adnan Khan appeared on behalf of the petitioners and raised two points in his arguments. He pointed out that there was out-of-turn promotions of mostly those who earned honours during the performance of their duties.
This rule, he said, was applicable in all police forces but now those cadets were being demoted to bring them on the merit of other officials. He added that a larger PHC bench had already directed the provincial government to review the relevant laws.
Also, the lawyer pointed out that in the 1980s, the then IG had issued a standing order that if someone spent three years as an instructor in Hangu, he would be given an out-of-turn promotion. Therefore, those policemen could not be brought at par with others.
Barrister Adnan Khan said that there were two separate decisions of the Supreme Court in 2013 and 2017 regarding ending the out-of-turn promotion policy, but added that both the decisions were related to the police forces of Punjab and Sindh.
Now, the K-P police were demoting their decorated officers and those who promoted in the 1980s on the basis of these decisions. He pleaded with the court that once a policy was framed and someone benefited, it could not be withdrawn.
Later, the court issued the injunction order in this matter, staying any change in the seniority list of police officers. The bench sought replies from the IG and the chief secretary and adjourned further hearing of the case till April 4.
CCI asked to include regional languages in census
A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), comprising Justice SM Atiq Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmed, while hearing a petition filed to include some languages spoken in different regions of the country in the census, sent the matter to the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
It also issued instructions to the council that after reviewing all the issues, the council should take steps to include these languages in the census form.
During the hearing, Shahid Ali Yeftali, the counsel for the petitioners, told the court that a new census is currently being conducted across the country.
Three regional languages are not included in the census form, thus depriving their speakers of the opportunity of being counted, so the court should issue an order to include them in the census form.
After the arguments were completed, the bench issued an order to refer the matter to the CCI and issued instructions to the council
It directed that after reviewing all the issues, steps should be taken to include these languages in the census form.
Orderly distribution of free flour stressed
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan on Wednesday took notice of mismanagement in the distribution of free government flour in some parts of the province.
He has directed the Food Department and all district administrations to take necessary steps for the orderly distribution of flour, ensuring that there are no complaints of maladministration.
With the month of Ramazan upon us, the chief minister emphasised the need to make the distribution of flour easy for people across the province.
He also directed for making every effort to ensure that people do not face any problems in obtaining flour.
To ensure transparency in the distribution process, he stressed the need for the strict implementation of laid-down procedures.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2023.
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